Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



sept'. 4, 192s.

J. F. ocoNNoR FRIcTIoN saocx sonr'ne mcr'lmmsu Filed Jan. 3l. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WM5 v a WM Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNITED srrfns: sereni?? JOHN F. ozooNNoR, or' CHICAGO', remmers, Asseronltro'w. ivrriinngiivcg, or"Y cHIcAGo, ILLINOIS; A coareea' 'ron on DELAWARE;

FRICTION SHOCK-ABSORBIG llrEClANSM.. Y

Application. ledil'anuary 31, 1927i Seriar No. 164,884".

rifhis invention relates 1 to improvements in-l friot'ion .shock absorbingV mechanisms..

@ne object ot the inventioiris to provide a.

friction shock: absorbing mechanism especially adapted2 for railway draft riggings, affordingifreespring.- action during the tir-st?v partotf the 1 compress-ion str-citatoY absorb t the lighter shocks towhich the mechanism is subjectedg'followed by trictional resistance? dining; they remainder ot theV compression stroke to take care ot the heavier shocks, in-l cluding aspringcage andffiictionsliell which arerelativel'y movable toa limitedezrtentA dur ing the irst par-t' of the compression stroke, and 'friction means relatively movable with respectl tothe shell d'uringtlie remainder ot tliecompression-stroke toiproduce the heavier resistance; wherein simple and. etli'cient readily` renewable meansl having4 friction surfaces is: provided for anchoring` the friction shell to the cage, whereby: theV -rictionsurfaces of the sliellmay-'be renewedwhen worn without destructive effect tothe shell;

A more specific ob] ectojttlieinvention is to provide, ina mechanism ofi thecharacter indicated; including` a springI cage and a relatively movable liicti'on shell, whereinthe fr' ct-ion sur-faces of? thel sli-'ell may beA readily renewed wlien they beeomei worn by thev provision ot detachable-liners for the shell which also serve=toA anchorftllieshellito the cage *for limited movement-v relatively 'theretoi thereby gre atfly reducing the costi' of' i'nanut'act-ure` of' the shock; absorbing mechanism and? adding materially to they length of service of? the same;A n

@ther obj ects and? advantages of tthe invention will-more ully andclearly'ap'pear 'from the description' and claims hereinafter following.. n f' l 'n the drawings,` forming a` parti o't thisspecification, Figure lisl a horizontal longitudinal' sectional" view o'f aA portion ot a railway draft riggi'nfr', showing oneembodiinent ot my improvementsin-connection therewith; Tligure Zis av iront' en'delevationalview ofmy; improved shock' absorbing" mechanism illustrated in Figure l. Figure-3 is ati'ansverse vertical sectional View corresponding substantially'totlie line of Figurel. Figure is a` longitudinal verticalsectional view of the shock' absorbing` mechanism` proper illustrated' in Figure l", corresponding substantially to the' line-i'of saidigure: Fig# ure 5 is a detailed perspectiveview of ai liner lemproyedf nr Vconnectfioir with my.' improved shock'absorbingmechanism as` illustrated in Figures 1i to. 4,-.inclusive,. and Figure G` is a horizontal sectional view. ot; the front. end portion. of' my. improved: shock absorbing mechanism, illustrating another embodiment of: theinventionf.. v f y f lin. saidi drawingsl 'lOL-.I'Oy indicatechannel shaped center or dirait sillsot" a railway car undertiame,.tor the inner surfaceshot which are seeuredl the usual 'trontlstop flugs. l1'-1'1 and rear stopl'ugsl i12- 12; The; inner end portionoi tlied'raw-bar is designated by. 13, to which is'oper-atively connect'ed ayoke lil. of welll known" itorn'i.v The shock' absorbing mechanism proper and the iront'y main follower 15 areA disposed within? the yole'. and the yoke andv the; parte thcrewithin.rare lsupported ini operative` position by. al detachable saddle plate liixedto the dral'tsills.

l Referring iirst to the einbjo'dimentof the invention illustrated in Figures lf'to. 5, iniclusive, the improved?sliocliabsorbing. mechas nisnii proper comprises` broadlyfA spring cage A; awtrictionshell Big: a pairv offliners 'G4-G a wedgeY D gia! pair oi.' friction. shoes E and F ;a' main springresistance'G anda retainer. boltV v l 'liliespringl cage4v is iirthe' orniiof a sub-` stantially rectangularu bonlike casting.k hav.- ing longitudinally disposed vertical spaced side walls 17-17, horizontally disposedi lon'- gitudinally extending spaced top; .and bottom' wallslS--lSg andfa verticalfrear endw'allrlt); The end wall 1.9?cooper'ateswith the stop lugs 12 in"V the manner. of 'the usual' rear follower. The side wallsfl'r" are'longitudinally slotted adjacent the forward end as indicated at 20: rPhe slotsl 2O inytlie'- oppositey sidewalls. are preferably disposed inn alignment: Rear'- wardly ot'the slots? 20,. the side walls ot'the cage arel laterally enlargedas indicated at 214-21", thereby` presenting relatively: wide abutment aces2f2--22at the innerl ends `oi't-he slotsQO f 1 'Eliefriction-ishellBis also :inthe t'ormiofra: substantially-l rectangular'y boielilre casting open at its iront? and rearen'ds andhaving;y vertically disposed longitudinally. extending spacedt side wallsi 23e-Q3 andi horizontally disposed'longitudinallylextending spaced Vtop and liettonr walls 2-i`-2i2 The" toflaj.bottom and sidey walls-are` inter-iorl'y cut away' at the rear end of the shell as indicated at 25 to telescopically receive the front end portion of the spring cage A. The front end portion of the top, bottom 4and side walls of the shell B are thus left enlarged, thereby presenting transverse shoulders 26 adapted to co-operate with the front end of the spring cage to limit inward movement of the shell relatively thereto. The enlarged portions of the side walls 23 of the friction shell are vertically slotted as indicated at 27 for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

1 The liners C are disposed at opposite sides of the mechanism and are detachably con` nected to the side walls 23 of the friction shell B. Each ofthe liners C is in the form of a relatively heavy substantially rectangular plate having the longitudinally disposed frietion surface 28 on the inner side thereof.

The friction surface 28 of the opposed liners are preferably converged inwardly of the shell torproduce differential action. outer side, each liner C is provided with a flat bearing surface 29 adapted to engage the inner` surface of the side wall 23 of the shell B. Each liner C is also provided with a relatively wide vertical rib 3() on the outer side thereof adapted to engage within the slot 27 of the corresponding side wall 23 of the frictionshell B, thereby anchoring the liner against longitudinal displacement with Y respect to the shell proper. At the rear end,

each liner C is provided with a laterally extending lug 31v on the outer side thereof. The lug, 31 of each liner isl engaged within the slot 20'on the corresponding sidewall 17 of the spring cage. The lugs 31Kand the slots 2O are so proportioned that the rear ends of the lugs will engage the shoulders 22 at the same time that movement of the lshell B is limited byengagement with the. shoulders 26 thereof with the front end of the spring cage A. As will'be evident, the lugs 31 of the liners serve t0 anchor the friction shell B to the spring cage for limited movement rela-- tive thereto. Outward movement of the shell B withrespect tothe cage A is limited by engagementof the lugs 31 with the front end walls of the slots`20 in the side walls of the cage. i

The wedge Dis in the form of. a cored block having a flat front end face bearing directly on the inner side'of the main follower 15. At the inner end, the wedge block D is provided witha pair of inwardly converging wedge faces on opposite. sides thereof, the wedge faces being designated by 32 and 33 respectively. The wedge face 32 is shown as disposed at a relatively keen wedge acting angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the mechanismY while the wedge face 33 is shownA as disposed at a relatively blunt angle with respect to said axis. Although the wedge faces are shown as disposed at different angles with respectto the axis of the On the mechanism, it will be evident that they may be disposed at the same angle with respect thereto.

The friction shoes E and F are disposed at opposite sides of the mechanism and aro interposed between theY wedge block and the liners C. The friction shoes E and F are of like design, except as hereinafter pointed out. rEach of the shoes is provided with an outer longitudinally disposed flat friction surface adapted to co-operate with the friction surface 28of-the corresponding liner C. Cn the inner side, each shoe is provided with a lateral enlargement 34 having a wedge face at Ithe forward side thereof, the wedge face of the shoell being designated by 132 and cooperating with the wedge face 32 of the block D and correspondingly inclined thereto, and the wedge face on the shoe F being designated by and eo-operating with the wedge face 3K3 of the block D and correspondingly in-v cl ined thereto.

The spring resistance G comprises a relatively light inner coil and a heavier outer coil, both vcoils having their forwardends bearing directly on the inner ends of the enlargements of the'v friction shoes and the outer coil having the rear end thereof bearing'on the end wall 19 of the cage A. The innere-oil has the rear end thereof-bearing or. an inwardly projecting hollow boss 35 0n the end wall 19 of the cage A.

The mechanism is held assembled and of overall uniform length by the retainer bolt H which has its oppositeends anchored to the hollow boss 35 and the wedge block D respectively. f Theretainer bolt H notonly n serves to hold the mechanism assembled, but also to maintain the spring resistance under initial compression. Compensation for wear of the various friction wedge faces is had by outward movement of the friction shoes with respect to the other parts, the shoes being urged outwardly by the spring resistance G, which, as hereinberfore'point-cd out, is main-A tainedunder initial compression. In assembling `the mechanism, and connecting the friction shell Bto the cage A, the liners C are inserted within the cage, while the shell B is telescoped over the end of the cage, the lugs 31 `of theV liners being inserted in the slots 2O and the ribs 30 being forced into the slots 27 of the friction shell B. The wedge, friction shoes and spring are then assembled with the yfriction shell and cage, and the parts secured in position by the retainer bolt H. It will `be evident that .due to the spring G being under initial compression, the wedge blocl; D acts tomaintain the friction shoes spread apart and under lateral pressure. Due to this lateral pressure, the liners C will be held assembled with the friction shelljB and spring cage A. In ease the liners become worn, the same may be'readily replaced by new liners by removing the wedge and Ill lil)

ness-,397

frictionshoes from the gear, then detaching the liners C ano replacing the same by new liners, the gear beingy then assembled' infthe ianner hereinbefore pointed out.

The operation of my improved shock absorbing meclninism, as illustrated in Figures ll to 5, inclusive, assuming a compression stroke, as follows: The spring cage A and follower l5 will be moved relatively toward each other, thereby forcing the wedge block l) toward the spring cage A and carrying the shoes E and F inwardly of the mechanism also and forcing the same laterally against the liners C. Due to the friction thus created between the friction shoes and the liners, the latter will be forced to move inwardly of the mechanism in unison with the shoes, carrying the friction shell VB to which they are fixedly anchoredl therewith. Movement of the frictionsl'iell in unison with the friction shoes and wedge is limited by engagement of the shoulders of the shell B with the front end of the spring cage A and engagement ofthe lugs 31 on the liners with the shouldersQQ of the spring cage. Further movement of thefrietion shell with respect to the spring cage is thus positively prevented, and

the friction shoes are forced to slide on the liners during the remainder of the compression stroke, lt will be evident that movement of the partsduring the first portion of the compression stroke is resisted entirely by Ythe spring G, and that after movement of Athe friction shell B with respect to the cage A is arrested, movement of the follower with respect to the cage A is resisted by the friction created between the shoes and the liners in addition to the resistance offered by the spring G.

During release, whennthe actuating force. reduced, the spring resistance H will force the shoes and wcdgeblock outwardly carry- M he friction shell B therewith due to the friction exi. ing betr-:ecn the liners C and ino;

l'the friction shoes E' and F.Y (lutward movement of the shell B will be arrested by engagement ofthe lugs ol on the liners with the front end walls of the slots of the cage.

Due tothe further expansion of the spring G,

the shoes E `and F, together withthe wedge,

'Gz and a retainer bolt H.

The vfedge block D', friction shoes E and F, the main spring resistance Gr" and the retainer bolt il are all of substantially the 'saine ronstruction as the corresponding parts villustrated in the embodiment of the vinvenon the corresponding .liner C, and beingl interiorly cut away as indicated at ljto telescopically l receive the' forward end of the cage A. l v f The liners C are heldto the friction shell B 'by the ribs 130 in a 'manner similar to the iorresponding partsillustrated in Figures l to 5, inclusive. The lost motion connection between the liners C and the spr-ing cage A is provided by the lugs 4() which engage'wit-hin the slots il at therear ends of the liners and the friction shell B is thus anchored toy the spring cage A and limitedvin'its movement outwardly of the-cage.

The operation of the improved shock aloi sorbingin chan`ism as illustrated in Figure .6, is substantially identical with that'of the form of the invention disclosed iirFigures l to 5, inclusive.- Y o Although the friction shell and spring cage may 'be formed of any suitable material, l preferably form both the spring `cage and fr'ction shell of steel so as to prolong the life Aof the gear.

lFrom theprecedingdescription taken in lconnection with the drawings, it will be evident that I have provided simple and v'eflicient means which may bc cheaply manufactured in the form of replaceable liners for connecting the friction shell to the spring cage of a shock absorbing mechanism. this arrangement, the life ofthe shock absorbing mechanism proper is greatly prolonged, inasmuch as the liners may berepeatedly freplaced by new liners as they become worn.

` While l have herein shown and Adescribed i what novvr, consider the preferred mannery Yof carrying out my inventionthe same is merely illustrative, and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come Vwithin the scope ofthe claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combina-tion with a spring cage less'than, the full coi'npression stroke rof the mechanism; of afriction shell', said shell and cage'being relatively movable; removable means for lining` said shell, Vsaid removable means being anchored; to the vspring cage,

said 'anchorage providing for limi ted jlon gitudinalmovement between the shell and cage;

yfriction means co-operating with the `lining means of the shell; and spring'resistance means opposing movement of the shell and friction means inwardly of the cage.

2. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a spring cage; of a friction shell, said shell being provided with removable liners presenting interior friction surfaces; eO-operating means on said liners and cage for anchoring the shell to the cage for limited movementrelative thereto before full compression .of the mechanism; friction means co-operating with the friction surfaces of the liners; and means Within the cage for yieldingly opposing movement-of the shell and friction means inwardly of the cage. A

3. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a spring cage; of a friction shell having opposed walls; a liner removably attached toeach of said walls, said .liner having longitudinally disposed friction surfaces, said liners and cage having co-operating mea-ns thereon. for anchoring the shell to the cage for limited relative movement thereof; afteia predetermined compression of the mechanism less than the full compression stroke; friction shoes engaging the friction surfaces of the liners; spreading means engaging the shoes; and spring resistance means within the cage opposing movement of the shoes and shell inwardly of the cage.

4f. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a spring cage; of a rectangular friction shell having opposed side walls; of a pair of liners removably secured to the side walls of the shell, said liners having longitudinally disposed friction surfaces, said liners having a lost motion connection with the cage for detachably connecting the shell-to the cage for limited relative movement thereof to Aless than the full compression stroke of the mechanism; friction shoes (3o-operating with the liners; pressure transmitting means having wedging engagement `with tlieshoes, and means within the cage yieldingly opposing movement of the shelland shoes toward the cage.

5,. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a spring cage; of a friction shell; liners for the shell, said liners and shell having shouldered engagement to detachably secure the liners to theshell and hold the same against relative longitudinal movement; interengagingmeans on the liners and cage providing a lost motion connection for anchoring the shell to the cage for limited relative movement thereto less than the full compression stroke of the mechanism; friction shoes bearing on the liners; pressure transmitting wedge means movable relatively to the cage for spreading the shoes apart to place the liners under lateral pressure and maintain the same in assembled relation with the shell; and spring resistance means within the cage opposing relative movement ofthe shell and cage and also opposing relative movement of the cage and shoes.

6. In a friction shock absorbing meeh-` anism, the combination with a spring cage; of a friction shell, said cage and shell having limited movement toward and away from each other, said shell being provided with liners detachably fixed thereto7 said liners presenting interior friction surfaces; interengaging lugv and slot connections on said. liners and cage for anchoring the shell to the cage and limiting relative movement of the shell and cage to less than the full compression stroke of the mechanism; friction means cooperating with said liners; meansfor moving said friction means and cage relatively to each other and forcing the friction means laterally outwardly against the liners; and spring means within the cage opposing movement of the shell and friction means inwardly of the cage.

7. In a friction shock absorbing f mechan, the combination with a spring cage; of a friet ion shell., saidv shell and cage being telescoped and having relative movement limited to less than the full compression stroke of ment including' liners detachably fixed to the shell and having a lost motion connection with the cage; friction shoes engaging the liners; pressure transmitting spreading nieansfor holding said shoes against the lineis and the liners fixed to the shell; and a spring resistance within the cage opposing the movement of the shell-toward the cage.

S. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a spring cage; of a friction shell telescopically receiving the front end of the cage; uliners detachably anchored to -the shell against longitudinal movement, said liners having a lost motion connection with the cage for anchoring the same to the cage for limited movement longitudinally thereof during the first part of the compression stroke; friction means co-operyating' with the liners; pressure transmitting spreading means for forcing said shoes apart, placing the liners under lateralpressure and holding the same against the sliellwalls; andv spring resist-ance means withinthe shell cooperating with said shoes.

9. In* a frictionshock absorbing mechanisin,-the combination withv a spring cage; of a friction shell having opposed side walls, said shell and cage being relatively movable toward and away from each other; detachableliners anchored to the shell wall for movement in unison witlithe shell, said liners and cage having a lost motion connection for anchoring the shell to the cage foi' limited relative movement less than the full compression stroke of the mechanism, said lost motion connection including lugs on the liners engaging within slots in the cage walls;

`the mechanism; of means for anchoringY the n 'shell to the cage for limited relative moveiou lll)

resasev friction elements fro-operating with the liners; pressure transmitting spreading means (3o-operating with said friction elements for forcing the same apart and moving them inward of the mechanism; and spring resistance means within the cage opposing movement of said shell and friction means inwardly of the cage.

l0. In a friction shock'absorbing mechanism, the combination with a spring cage; of a friction shell, said Cage and shell having relative movement toward and away from each other; means on the cage for arresting inward movement of the shell after a predetermined compression of the mechanism less than the full compression stroke; liners fixedly anchored to the shell7 said liners having longitudinally disposed friction surfaces ;A intei-engaging lug and slot lost motion connections on said liners and cage for anchoring the shell to the cage and limiting outward movement of the shell; friction shoes eooperating with the liners; pressure transmitting means having wedging engagement with the shoes; and a spring resistance within the cage opposing movement of the' shell and shoes.

1l. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a spring cage; of a friction shell, said shell and cage having limited relative movement longitudinally of the mechanism less than the full compression stroke; said shell having a lost motion connection with the cage7 including arms fixed -to the shell; said arms and cage having interengaging slot and lug connections; friction means (2o-operating with the friction shell; pressure transmitting spreading means for placing said friction means under Vlateral pressure and forcing the same inwardly of the mechanism; and a spring resistance Within the cage opposing movement of the shell and friction means inwardly of the cage.

l2. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a spring cage; Aof a movable friction shell; removable means for lining said shell, said removable means being anchored to the spring cage and shell to maintain the same assembled; said removable means providing a lost motion connection limiting movement of the shell to lessthan the full compression stroke of the mech-v anism; friction means co-operating with the lining means of the shell; spreading means co-operating with the friction means for pressing the friction means outwardly against the lining means of the shell to maintain the lining means intel-locked with the shell and spring cage; and spring resistance means opposing relative movement of the spring cage and friction means.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th y day of January, 1927.

JOHN F. OCONNOR. 

